SYMPHONY NOVA SCOTIA BOARD OF Symphony Nova Scotia is Nova Scotia’s Orchestra. DIRECTORS 2014/15 Under the inspirational leadership of Music Director EXECUTIVE Bernhard Gueller, Symphony Nova Scotia enriches Dennice Leahey, C.M., Chair our lives through creative, professional performance Bret Mitchell, Past Chair David Hastings, Vice Chair of a broad spectrum of orchestral music. Musicians, Peter MacAskill, Secretary/Treasurer staff, and volunteers are committed to contributing to your cultural life with the generous support of MEMBERS Nancy Barteaux our community. Thank you for commitment to Margaret Caley Symphony Nova Scotia! Catherine Campbell Dominic Desautels Brian James MUSIC DIRECTOR CELLOS Max Kasper Bernhard Gueller Norman Adams, Principal Brian Leadbetter Shimon Walt, Assistant Principal PRINCIPAL BAROQUE LEADER Mary Lu MacDonald Hilary Brown Jeanne Lamon Mary Martin Benjamin Marmen* POPS CONDUCTOR LAUREATE Varqa Mirzaagha BASSES Howard Cable Gail Morris Max Kasper, Principal Colin Piercey ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR Lena Turofsky, Assistant Principal Wendy Rees Martin MacDonald FLUTES Elizabeth Ryan FIRST VIOLINS Patricia Creighton, Principal Tom Traves Renaud Lapierre, Concertmaster * Christine Feierabend (Piccolo) HONORARY DIRECTORS Jennifer Jones, Assistant Concertmaster OBOES Dr. Richard Goldbloom, O.C. Kirsty Money, Assistant Concertmaster* Suzanne Lemieux, Principal Norman Newman (1928 – 1993) Celeste Jankowski Brian James (English Horn) Women for Music – President, Shirley Dean Karen Langille Yi Lee CLARINETS HONORARY PATRON Peter Stryniak Dominic Desautels, Principal Brigadier-General the Honourable J.J. Grant, CMM, ONS, Gillian Smith* Eileen Walsh (Bass Clarinet) CD (Ret’d), Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia SECOND VIOLINS BASSOONS ADMINISTRATION & PRODUCTION STAFF Isabelle Fournier, Principal Ivor Rothwell, Principal Christopher Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer Simon-Philippe Allard, Assistant Principal Christopher Palmer Kevin Nicoll, CMA, Director of Finance Janet Dunsworth Heidi MacPhee, Director of Communications and Marketing HORNS Anita Gao Lee Janice Fuller, Communications Manager David Parker, Principal Ken Nogami Anne Laybolt, Director of Development Mary Lee Anne Simons Lori Saunders, Development Manager TRUMPETS Eric Mathis, Director of Operations VIOLAS Richard Simoneau, Principal Jeremy VanSlyke, Production Manager Susan Sayle, Principal Curtis Dietz James Eager, Music Librarian Kerry Kavalo, Assistant Principal Allan Gaskin, Education & Community Outreach Coordinator Yvonne DeRoller TIMPANI AND PERCUSSION M.J. MacLeod, Technical Coordinator Binnie Brennan Michael Baker, Principal *Thank you to staff/interns who contributed their talents for a * temporary for 2014/15 Season portion of the year: Camille Dubois Crôteau, Will Pearson. Symphony Nova Scotia is a professional orchestra and a member of Orchestras Canada. Its members belong to the Canadian Federation of Musicians, Local 571. Symphony Nova Scotia is a non-profit charitable organization (Reg. #119207900RR0001). 2014 / 2015 Annual Report 2014 / 2015 2 DENNICE LEAHEY CHRISTOPHER WILKINSON BOARD CHAIR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CHAIR’S MESSAGE CEO’S REPORT The 2014/15 season was one of resounding success for Symphony As I look back on the 2014/15 season, I ask myself: how are we doing? Nova Scotia. Maestro Gueller and the musicians performed with pas- We didn’t balance our budget, but we managed to squeak through with a sion and finesse, and we reached some incredible artistic heights. tiny operating deficit of less than 1%. We have a positive relationship with our musicians, and we are just beginning a five-year Collective Bargaining In addition to great musical artistry, our community outreach efforts Agreement. Our Foundation is the envy of orchestras throughout the country, continued to blossom with the addition of the Beyond the Hall touring and it is one of the largest Foundations relative to budget size. In a national program, bringing the full orchestra to Pictou County. We also partici- context, amidst great challenges, we are doing okay. pated in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute program, Link Up, culminating in a collaborative performance between students and the Symphony. I have learned that in order to be successful, I need to manage this organi- zation aggressively. I must be ruthless about expenses, constantly look for Though ticket sales continue to break records (this year exceeding revenue opportunities, expect bad weather, and anticipate budget short- $1.2 million), we had some financial challenges. With the unseasonably falls. It is not enough to meet budget targets; they need to be exceeded. cold and stormy winter, we were disappointed to have had to cancel not one but two concerts, resulting in an estimated $30,000 in lost reve- In light of this difficult job, it has been a huge help that administrative staff- nue. Additionally, our Canada Council grant was reduced by $40,000. ing has been stable for several years, contrary to the normal turnover in not- Despite these challenges, we concluded the season with only a minor for-profits. I am very grateful to my staff for their hard work and dedication, deficit of $35,000 (less than 1% of our total operating budget). and I look forward to our future successes. Our relative success in the face of these challenges speaks to the I have also been lucky to work with a highly supportive Board of Directors. strength and resilience of our organization, and strong leadership from I am amazed by their ongoing contribution, and I learn from them constantly. CEO Chris Wilkinson. We are extremely grateful for the commitment of Finding better ways to do things is always on my mind. The orchestra indus- our subscribers, donors, sponsors, and funders, as well as the dedica- try is facing the profound effects of reduced public funding, dwindling tion of our volunteers, staff, board, musicians, and community partners. music education in schools, changing musical interests, and new methods of Over the past two years as Chair, I have seen how each group of pas- media consumption. We must find creative ways to face these challenges. sionate individuals has come together to build a stronger Symphony Change is tough, and bringing about positive change is one of the most Report Nova Scotia, one that will continue to thrive well into the future. difficult tasks I face as CEO; but it is a challenge I accept gladly as we look Thank you for the honour of chairing this wonderful organization. forward to next season. Thank you for taking the journey with us. DENNICE LEAHEY BOARD CHAIR CHRISTOPHER WILKINSON CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Annual 2014 / 2015 3 BERNHARD GUELLER BRAIN JAMES MUSIC DIRECTOR OBOE / ENGLISH HORN FROM THE MAESTRO PLAYERS’ REPORT I still seem to have the sounds of the Rachmaninoff and Friends The 2014/15 season kicked off with a welcome expansion of our Festival floating in my head. Antonio Pompa-Baldi gave us unforget- education concerts for students across Halifax. In addition to perform- table performances of the Second and Third concerti, and Santiago ing Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf for thousands of school children, Cañón Valencia’s cello also resounds as I recall the Tchaikovsky we performed free public concerts at the Maritime Museum, Province Rococo Variations and the Haydn Cello Concerto. Sara Davis Buechner House, City Hall, and the new Halifax Central Library. We were thrilled and Beethoven; the Brahms Requiem; the Adams Symphony; to see the expansion of the Alderney Landing Series as well as the Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition; Symphonic Tango; Howard popular Family Series concerts during this season. Cable and the music of the Oscars; Alex Weimann’s Bach and Highlights included Brahms’ Requiem, the Open Waters New Music Handel; and the welcome return of Canada’s Ballet Jörgen. Festival, and an inspired performance by Quebec’s Quartango. Festival So many high points – too many to mention – with just two low points: performances of Pictures at an Exhibition, Scheherazade, and the the cancellation of the annual collaboration with the Nova Scotia Youth Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos were an extraordinary way to celebrate Orchestra and American Symphonic Hits with Alain Trudel. the end of our season. The snows of 2015 proved too much to contend with, however, and we were disappointed to cancel performances with The weather aside, none of these successes would have been pos- Alain Trudel, Jonathan Crow, and the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra. sible without the musicians we are so lucky and happy to have in Halifax. It goes without saying that their commitment is second to Along with successfully ratifying a new five-year collective agreement, none, and their passion and ability self-evident. Combined with our Symphony musicians worked closely with board and staff to develop efficient, effective, and dedicated office staff, our caring, encourag- a new strategic plan. We are hopeful that this plan will lead us toward ing, hardworking, and dedicated board, our amazing sponsors and, growth in a number of areas. All this leaves the musicians with a sense as always, our loyal audience (still on the rise!), we are in a better of optimism, and we are looking forward to making the most of the place than ever before. positive momentum in coming seasons. Thank you! After an extensive audition search, the orchestra is very excited to welcome four new musicians to our ensemble: violinists Mark Lee, BERNHARD GUELLER Émilie Paré, and Joelle Kee, and cellist Ben Marmen. MUSIC DIRECTOR Thank